Ben Gardiner is now a buying consultant specialising in online auctions. He saves money for the buying departments of companies by helping them find the best deals on goods and services.

He recently organised an online auction for one of his clients who was looking for a new stationery supplier. The client 's buying team watched, via a PC, potential suppliers bid against each other before offering a contract to one of them. "The day of the auction is very exciting for buyers as they watch savings roll in with each new bid, " says Ben..

He is employed by Ivo Business Solutions but his base is at home or the office of a client. "The obvious benefits of working from home are that you can get your washing done!" says Ben. "You do have to be very disciplined though." He says he is happiest when he 's working onsite with clients. At a client 's base he will spend time in meetings with the buying team, train the team, collect and analyse data and produce tender documents.

"We take a lot of pressure off buying teams and provide access to the latest technology which allows companies to run online auctions."

When Ben left Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in computing and business, he joined Boots as an IT graduate trainee and moved into e-procurement. He met David Armes, overseeing the procurement strategy at Tesco. David co- founded Ivo Business Solutions two years ago and Ben joined soon after.

"I thought my career would be in a big company, so it was a big step to go from Boots to Ivo, but I 'm having such a good time being part of a small company. I like the fact I can contribute to the shape and direction Ivo takes."